Throughout Dr McGarey’s book The Well-Lived Life, there’s reference to the fact that the mind and body are connected, reflecting her holistic approach to medicine.
When patients visited her surgery with physical ailments, she would often ask them questions about their emotions, their social support, and what brought their days joy and meaning.
In many cases, typically when there was no physical cause to the ailments presented, she would be able to identify a psychological cause that, once addressed, allowed the symptoms to disappear.
While GPs today are unlikely to have the time for such in-depth investigations, McGarey shows there is merit in treating the whole body, which includes our mental state.
In Western medicine, we don’t tend to connect our physical issues to our mental or emotional states. We’re trained to look at isolated organs or focus on mechanical issues such as diet and posture, instead of asking patients: What else in your life isn’t working?
Gaining increasing recognition
The concept of the mind-body connection has intrigued scientists, philosophers, and healers for centuries. It speaks to the idea that our thoughts, emotions, and mental states are not separate from our physical health but are deeply interconnected.
This relationship has gained increasing recognition in both medical and wellness communities, underscoring the importance of addressing mental health as a key component of overall well-being.
The Science Behind the Mind-Body Connection
Modern research has provided substantial evidence that the mind and body are in constant communication. This is largely mediated by the nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord, and the endocrine system, which controls hormone production.
These systems interact to regulate various bodily functions, from heart rate to digestion, and even immune response.
Emotions and physical health
Emotions play a significant role in the mind-body connection. Positive emotions like joy, gratitude, and love can have a beneficial effect on physical health. They can improve immune function, lower blood pressure, and even increase longevity.
Negative emotions can contribute to a range of physical ailments, from headaches and digestive problems to more serious conditions like depression and cardiovascular disease, which McGarey discusses in her book.
One of the most well-documented examples of the mind-body connection is the impact of stress on physical health. When a person experiences stress, the body releases hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, preparing it for a “fight or flight” response.
While this reaction is essential for survival in the face of immediate danger, chronic stress can lead to long-term health issues such as heart disease, hypertension, and a weakened immune system.
The placebo effect
One striking example of the mind-body connection is the placebo effect, where a patient experiences real physical improvements after receiving a treatment with no therapeutic value.
This phenomenon demonstrates how powerful the mind can be in influencing the body’s healing processes.
Positive psychology and the body-mind connection
When it comes to positive psychology, the physical body is often overlooked in favour of examining emotions and cognition, and the field has been criticised for this as a result.
Kate Hefferon (2015) has done a lot of work to try and redress the balance, recognising the benefits of a more holistic, embodied approach to human flourishing is needed.
How we treat our body; move our body; soothe our body; feed our body; dress our body; decorate our body and connect to our body, all have an impact on our hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing ~ (Hefferon, 2013).
Hefferon highlights the fact that the physical state of our body has a significant effect on our emotions as well as playing an important role in social interactions and interpersonal relationships, where we interpret body language and facial expressions, for example.
Body image
How we perceive our body can have a huge impact on our mental health and overall wellbeing, as anyone who has had an eating disorder can confirm.
Hefferon (2015) highlights that there is a wealth of evidence linking negative body image with social anxiety, higher rates of depression, reduced confidence, increased incidences of eating disorders, and lower overall psychological well-being (Avalos et al., 2005; Swami, Begum, & Petrides, 2010).
Conversely, having a positive body image, where we love, respect and accept our bodies, take care of them, reject the unrealistic body image portrayed in the media, and appreciate the functional role our bodies play in our lives, is linked to higher rates of self-esteem, optimism and overall wellbeing.
There is one relationship that can arguably impact our well-being the most, and that is the relationship we have with our body (Cash and Smolak, 2011).
Practices That Strengthen the Mind-Body Connection
Given the strong link between mental and physical health, incorporating practices that enhance the mind-body connection can lead to improved overall well-being.
Mindfulness meditation is one such practice that has been shown to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and improve mental clarity.
By focusing on the present moment and becoming more aware of one’s thoughts and feelings, individuals can break the cycle of negative thinking that often exacerbates stress and its physical manifestations.
Another practice that bridges the mind-body gap is yoga. Combining physical postures, breath control, and meditation, yoga has been found to reduce stress, alleviate chronic pain, and improve mental health.
Regular physical exercise, in general, is also beneficial. It not only boosts physical fitness but also releases endorphins, the body’s natural mood lifters.
This is an area McGarey also refers to in her book, stressing the importance of movement in influencing mood.
Movement and mood
Demonstrating this connection, McGarey reminds us that exercising the body can help in the treatment of depression and can help ease stress.
It can be hard to get moving when we’re depressed. It can also be hard when we’re in great pain. But the emotional pain of depression is very similar to physical pain, and often, as much as it may hurt, movement is part of the solution to pain.
A balanced approach to health
As a holistic physician, Dr McGarey advocates for a balanced approach to health that includes physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. She underscores the importance of listening to your body and treating it with care.
The mind-body connection highlights the need for a holistic approach to health, as practiced by McGarey, one that considers the mental, emotional, and physical aspects of well-being.
Not separate domains
There is clear evidence that the mind and body are not separate domains, meaning there is value in paying attention to our mental health as much as our physical health.
Embracing practices that strengthen the mind-body connection is therefore a vital component of wellness.
Whether through mindfulness, physical activity, or simply listening to our bodies, we have the tools to enhance our overall well-being and lead more fulfilling lives.
Sources
Avalos, L., Tylka, T. L., & Wood-Barcalow, N. (2005). The body appreciation scale: Development and psychometric evaluation. Body Image, 2(3), 285–297.
Cash, T. F., & Smolak, L. (Eds.). (2011). Body image: A handbook of science, practice, and prevention (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
Hefferon, K., 2015. The role of embodiment in optimal functioning. Positive psychology in practice: Promoting human flourishing in work, health, education, and everyday life, pp.789-806.
Hefferon, K. (2013). Positive psychology and the body: The somatopsychic side to flourishing. London, England: McGraw-Hill.
Littrell, J., 2008. The mind-body connection: not just a theory anymore. Social work in health care, 46(4), pp.17-37.
Swami, V., Begum, S., & Petrides, K. V. (2010). Associations between trait emotional intelligence, actual–ideal weight discrepancy, and positive body image. Personality and Individual Differences, 49(5), 485–489.
